Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-05-02
THE FUTURE CATHOLIC UNIvER.
SITY.
The POpe's Brief-Not One.sixth Of the
Appointed Sum RaiSed-llOvN it Will
be Managed-AbOut Raising Funds.
From the New York SIM.

be Managed-About Raising Funds.
From the New York Sun.
ROME, April 3o-The event OF the past week In
the ecclesiastical circles OF Rome which is OF chief
interest TO Americans is the formal delivery 10
Bishop Keane, OF Richmond, OF the pope's brief
approving the plan which defines the scope OF the
proposed American Catholic University. A CON-
mittee of the propaganda, specially selected for
their knowledge OF such matters had been for
months carefully examining every detail, Pope
Leo himself frequently taking a hand or being
consulted Very few alterations were made I'm the
plan drawn up by the American bishops, and the
measure, as whole, was thoroughly endorsed
The choice OF the site is left to the bishops, and
Bishop keane is approved as rector.
LOOKING TO THE RICH FOR FUNDS.
The amount OF subscriptions up TO the present
moment, including Miss Caldwell's munincent gift
OF $500, 900, will hardly reach $500, OoO Now the
plan submitted contemplated the outlay OF at
least So,0Oo,0 OO and IL was debated for loag
while what course To take. Some urged an appeal
OF the poor would soon roll up the millions denied
by the laggard dollars OF the rich. A method like
that OF the Propagation Society OF Lyons, France,
was suggested III 1, 900 out OF the 5000 900
Catholics OF the United States could be induced to
enroll themselves into sort OF band pledged TO
give each ten cents month, this would produce
alter deducting expenses and possible delinquents
the sum OF 81, 000, 600 year. In four years the
sum needed would be raised I'm this manner. while
40 years.
The opponents OF this plan Justly urged that the
poor Catholics had enough burdens 10 bear in the
way OF religious contributions without placing
anotheT, however light, upon their shoulders.
TheE feared that this additional call in the cause
or higher education might damage to some extent
the system OF parochial schools, which bears so
heavily upon parishes where IL is in use, and
parish. Primary education is the first Necessity,
and no step should be taken that could possibly
damage ii. Some OF the more radical bishops
were even OF opinion that it would be better TO
devote the money raised, OF course with the con-
sent OF the donors TO the parochial schools, and
to appeal to the wealthy for more aid rather than
reverse the process. At length il was decided
that the very idea OF university implied that it
should derive its existence from the munifcence
or the rich. 1t was for the few, not for the many,
and while the Church as a whole might be bene-
nued by the minging among its people OF men
nlghly polished and cultivated, still these men,
coming principally from the wealthy element,
would be the chief beneiiciarieS in their per-
sons. Poor men sometimes get into universities,
but In nine out OF ten they the dependent
relatives OF the wealthy.
WORK TO BE BEGUN WITH THE MONEY on HAND.
Then arose the question whether they should
wait, as originally intended, until the subscrip-
lions had amounted TO s5,OOo,oOO, or begin on the
capital already at hand. The latter plan was
adopted. At first all the means viii be expended
upon a seminary. having all The skeleton appara-
tuS OF university, for the higher culture OF candi
dates for the priesthood. Here clerical students
can be sent to acquire broader knowledge OF
what they have been studying. Under the direc-
ton or Sh1llfu professors they Will listen TO the
most eminent lecturers thai can be secured, who
Will treat, not OF the elements OF learning but OF
the philosophy OF the various sciences. Thus, the
student Will not be expected to go through history
books coming facts chapter by chapter as he did
at school and college. He Will be supposed to know
these already, and the lecturer viii treat or the
philosophy OF history in its breadth, OF the
causes OF the rise and fall OF nations OF the origin
and relation OF races and the general vfciSsitudes
OF humanity. The same rule applies TO canon
law, morals the natural sciences, and every other
branch OF inquiry. The chief good to be secured
by this process is not the acquisition of facts but
the enlargement OF the students thinking power.
| II he Is devoting himself TO a speciality, ne un-
learns that habit OF the mind TO think his line
the only one in the world and learns that rational
creatures are pursuing various other branches
When this branch OF the university is thoroughly
established it is hoped that other colleges Will
| grow up around it. as at oxford and Cambridge
In this respect challenging that natural propen-
sity OF a rich man TO found complete college by
himself without merging his contribution into the
common fund.
NO RELIGIOUS ORDER WILL HAVE CONTROL
OF the university, and the member OF no religious
order will be excluded from a profeSSorShip be-
cause OF his order. 1t would be somewhat heavy
weight TO place the institution In any exclusive
hands, for IL Is intended to be the coping stone of
Catholic education I'm America, and TO draw from
every college within the bounds of the United
States The professors will be selected on the
ground OF their fitness, aud the best men will III
possible. be secured regardless Of the fact whether
they be Jesuits, DOminicans, Benedictines secular
priests or laymen. Mr. ST. George Mivart will be
offered the chair of natural science biology but
II is not expected that he Will accept lie IS CON-
fortably fixed where he is, and Is devoted to the
studies the machinery OF which he has around
him.
On the board Of trustees are several laymen but
these will have no voice in the selection OF pro-
fessors, that being delegated to the bishops. Mr.
Eugene Kelly and his brother laymen viii have
the management OF the finances and they could
not be placed In better hands.